Articles: What Is Music? | What Are Notes? | Sharps And Flats | Half Steps And Whole Steps | What Is A Scale? | The Major Scale | What Is A Key?
What is a Key?
The use of the word key as a musical term is quite common, yet many people are unfamiliar with its actual meaning. A song’s key refers to the scale from which the song’s melody notes and harmony notes are taken. If a song is in the key of "G Major", that means that the majority of the song’s melody and harmony notes will be the notes of the G major scale: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#. If a song is in the key of C minor, then the majority of the song’s melody and harmony notes will be from the C minor scale: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb.
Keys contain seven notes. And, we use seven letters in the musical alphabet. Because some notes have two names, it is important to remember that in the proper spelling of any key all seven letters will be used exactly once. Examples:
- Correct spelling of F major: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E
- Incorrect spelling of F major: F, G, A, A#, C, D, E
Even though A# and Bb are technically the same note, only one is appropriate when spelling this key.
One point that is helpful if remembered is that all keys contain either sharps or flats, but not both.